Loose-leaf binder



1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ow n N. C. DE LOSS LOOSE LEAF BINDER April 15, 1930.

Filed June 25 April 15, 1930. N, c, 0.5 Loss 1,754,418

LOOSE LEAF BI NDER' Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITE srA A E w NORMAN CLAYBAUGH DE LOSS, or SHAKERHEIGHTS, OHIO,

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER- 7 Application filed. June-23, 192?. Serial nofaooysr.

My invention relates to loose leaf'binders and more particularly it relates to improvements in extensible and retractibleloose leaf binders.

5 One of the objects of my invention resides in the provision of an improved'extensible and retractible binder mechanism for loose leaf binders which will enable the binder covers to be spaced from each other by pull 10 on the covers, andwhich mechanism is capable of returning the covers to normal contracted position when the pull is released.

Another object of myinvention is to provide an extensible and retractible binder mechanism for loose leaf binders having provision for retarding relative movement of the binder covers. l

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved extensible and retractible binder mechanism for loose leaf binders adapted to normally maintain the covers in relative contracted position, and which mechanism will restrain the leaves against accidental disengagement therefrom when the'mechanism is being operated.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision'of a loose leaf binder having an extensible and retractible binder mechanism adapted to support a plurality of loose leaves between the covers andwhich will retain the leavesinthebinder when the covers have been spaced from each other to facilitate insertionof additional leaves or removal of leaves from the binder.

the provision of a loose leaf binder brake mechanism adapted to prevent rapid accidental relative movement of the binder covers when the same is extended.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a loose leaf binder wherein l the extensible and retractible binder mechanism thereof is confined within the binder covers to enable the binder or a plurality of them to be evenly stacked on shelves or in a cabinet and thus occupy but a minimum amount of space.

These and other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become apparent from reference to the following description Another object of my invention resides in of an embodiment thereof and in which clescription reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of-this specification. 1

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a binder embodying my invention, illustrating the same with the covers opened and showing the binder mechanism retracted, the inner wall plate of one of the covers being partially removed, and theother cover being shown in fragment; a

Fig. 2 shows a sectionalview taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevationalview of the binder embodying my invention inretracted position and wherein the covers are closed; 4

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary'transverse sectional view taken on theline4,4= of Fig.1; v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on'the line 5-.5 of Fig. i

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.1. e

Fig; shows a fragmentary elevational view of the foregoing embodiment illustrating one of thepositions assumed bythe covers when the binder mechanism is extended spectively, of a loose leaf binder preferably of the usual'shape and thickness, which cov ers are preferably constructed of sheet aluminum to render the same oflight weight and to facilitate ready handling of the same without sacrificing durability. A covering of buckram, artificialleather, leather or any like material 12 may be glued or applied inany well-known manner to thebinder covers.

The covers are preferably constructed alike and each comprises a pair of joined sheetaluminum plates 13 and 14, one of which is flan ed at on three sides thereof. The ends of the plates 14, which are not engaged by the flange 15 of each cover are each provided with a plurality of fingers 9 looped at their ends to form a plurality of aligned tubes 8., The unflanged end of the plates 13 is provided with an inclined wall 3. The plates 14 are provided with a plurality of lugs 16 formed adjacent the edges thereof and bent downwardly and engaging upon the inner side walls of the flanges 15, while the rim 17 of the plate 14 engages the edge 18 of the flanges 15, as best shown in Fig. 4. The plate 14 is provided with depressions 19, one disposed adjacent each corner thereof and one substantially in the center thereof, which desions are apertured at 20 in alignment with threaded apertures 7 in the plate 13. These apertures are adapted to receive machine screws 6 threaded therein, as best shown in Fig. 4, which thus clamp the plates 13 and 14 together to provide a unitary cover. A space 21 between the plates when so joined together is rovided and an extensible and retractible binder mechanism for holding the covers connected together is disposed in one of the covers, which will hereinafter be described in detail.

The covers are preferably hingedly connected to a pair 0 preferably sheet-aluminum clincher or hinged bars 23 and 24 having looped fingers 25, aligned with the tubes 8 of the looped fingers 9 ofthe plates 14, rods 28 and 29 being telescoped into the bores to rovide a hinge for the covers and the metalic bars. These bars are connected to each other by virtue of a pair of telescoping tubes 30 and 31 secured to the bars 23 and, 24, respectively, by flanged ends 4 and 5, respectivel as best shown inFigs. 6, 7 and 8. A

longitudinal slot 32 is formed in the outer tube inner wall 33 in which a pin 34 may slide, which pin is carried by the inner tube 31 and is adapted to engage a stop 35 to prevent lon itudinal disengagement of the tubes 31 an 32 when moved relative to each other. The tubes 30. and 31 are adapted to normally retain the hinge or clincher bars spaced from each other, as best shown in Fig. 3, to prevent an operators fingers from being caught between the same when pulled towards each other.

, The bars are formed with inclined portions 36 spaced from the inclined walls 3 of the cover plates 13, and arealso provided with I an upwardly curved portion 37 disposed away from the covers and adapted to receive the flanged ends of the tubes secured thereto for supporting said tubes.

"As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the extensibleand contractible binder mechanism preferably comprises a pair of spring drums 40 and 41, both of which are preferably carried within thespace 21 of one of the covers. Said drums are rotatable on suitable journals such as pins 43 having non-circular ends 44 nonrotatably secured in non-circular aligned apertures 45 and 46 in the plates 13 and 14, respectively.

The spring drums being preferably alike in construction but one of them will be described in detail, and preferably comprises a flanged disk 50 and a flat disk 51 formed of a light-weight sheet-metallic material and secured together. Disk 51 is provided with a serrated periphery 52 which extends radially of the disk 50. The disk 50 is formed with a relatively large centrally disposed aperture 53 and is preferably dish-shaped in its transverse cross-section outside of said aperture to provide inner and outer peripheral flanges 54 and 55. These disks are each secured to the other by virtue of a plurality of rivets 56 and are disposed in substantially parallel relation with each other and with the top and bottom plates 13 and 14. The drums are of sufficient thinness to facilitate placing them within the space 21.

A. peripheral groove 65 is formed by the outer flange of the disk 50 and the extending portion of the disk 51 into which a flexible cable or woven metallic or the like binder strap is disposed and is secured in notches 67 formed in the disks by knotting or clamping the end of the cable or the like. The two binder straps are disposed about the peripheral grooves and extend tangentially therefrom at opposed sides of the drums as shown at 69 and 70 in Fig. 1. The opposite free ends of the binder straps ex" tendthrough pairs of aligned openings 71, 72 and 73 in the inclined wall of the cover 10, bar 23, tube 31 and bar 24, respectively, and are provided with an enlarged end portion 75 for securement to the bar 24.

The operation of the drum is substantially similar to a typewriter carriage return spring and the drum is preferably springreturned by virtue of a convolute spring 76 disposed about the pin 44 with the inner end 78 thereof disposed in a recess 79 in the pin while the outer end thereof is secured to the inner peripheral flange 54 of the disk 50.

' The axes of rotation of the drums are disposed parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cover plates 13 and 14 and are preferably spaced a suflicient distance from each other to enable the serrated peripheries of the drums to rotate freely.

In order to prevent the drums from exerting a pull on the binder straps when the binder covers have been expanded for the insertion of or removal of leaves from the binder straps and to prevent rapid retraction of the binder mechanism when an operator releases hold on the binder covers, I provide a braking mechanism for the drums, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, carried in the cover 10 adjacent the drums 40 and 41 and prefall erably comprising a slidable brake shoe carrying Iiiember 80 having outwardly flaring side edges at one end to provide an enlarged portion81. Said member is formedof sheet material, preferably aluminum, and is bent back upon itself to form an enlarged end of double thickness whilethe portions of the opposite relatively small end are spaced from each other so that this portion is of'a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the space 21, so that the plate will snugly it in the space and guide the member 80 when reciprocated therein by an operator. Carried by the flaring ends of the member 80 are pair of pivoted brake shoes 8% and 85 having serrated surfaces 87 and 88, the serrations of which are adapted to engage the serrations 52 of the disks 51.

Brake shoes 8% and 85 are preferably pivoted at 92 and 98 to the member 80 and are preferably urged outwardly away from each other by virtue of a looped spring 98 having oppositely extending free end portions 99 and 100 engaging the brake shoes and normally tending to swing them inwardly towards each other into contact with stop pins 101. Stop pins 102 and 108 carried on the brake shoe member are disposed at opposite sides of the brake shoes to limit outward pivotal movement of the brake shoes.

. A. guide pin 106 extends rearwardly of the brake shoe carrying member over which one end of acompression coil spring 107 is telescopedwhich is compressed between the member 80 and the inner wall of the end flange 15 of the cover plate 13 normally urging the member 80 into engagement with the drums. A plurality of upstanding pairs of lugs 108 and 109 are provided for guiding the intermediate portions of the spring.

A slot 116 is provided in the inner cover plate 14- into which a lug 117 carried by the member 80 is disposed. Said lug may be engaged by the thumb of an operator and reciprocated in the slot which in turn will carry the brake shoe carrying member 80 and disengage the brake shoes 84 and 85 from the drums whereby the binder covers may be pulled in opposite directions to facilitate spacing of each other.

When the operator has spaced the covers to a desired distance by a pull on the same, he may release his hold on the cover 10 and at the same time removing his thumb from contact with the lug 117 and thus the coil spring 107 will return the brake shoes into engagement with the brake drums and thereby prevent the covers from returning to-- wards each other, which position is best shown in Fig. 7. In this position, leaves may be removed or added to the binder tubes as desired without the possibility of the binder accidentally rapidly returning to normal contracted position.

When the binder is merely employed to make entries therein or to bill or post therefrom as the case may be, the binder covers may be opened in the usual manner without actuating the retractible and extensible binder mechanism, or the braking mechanisnn Parts comprising the aforedescribed binder are relatively few and are of a rigid construction which will not readily :become worn. However, wheresuch parts are worn proe vision is made for ready replacement of such parts. I. i I

I In order to prevent accidental disengage-1 ment of the spring 98 with the brake shoes 84 and 85, I employ a pin150disposed between the plates 13 and 1% about which the looped portion of the springis mounted.

The plate 13 isprovided with a slot 160 which provides a guide for thevbralce shoe carrying member by virtue of a guide pin 161 projected into the slot. A slot 162 is also provided in the plate 1 1 which provides a guide for the opposite end of the brake shoe carrying member by virtue of a pin 163 projected into the guide slot. Thus lateral movement of the brake member is prevented.

In Fig. 3, I haveshown but a relatively few loose leaves 200 whichI have shown merely for better illustration of the mechanism, it is to be understood that normally in use the binder has sufficient sheets to make up a thickness substantially the length of the tube 80, as is shown in Fig. 7 and which are held thereon by the apertures 201, as best shown in Fig. 8. r

Having thus described my invention in a specific embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the invention herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: s

1. A brake mechanism for a retracting mechanism of a loose leafbinder, comprising a brake shoe and means to normally force the shoe into contact with the retracting mechanism toeffect a braking action thereon, said shoe having a projecting portion adapted to be engaged by the finger of an operator when opening the binder to release the brake.

2. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination with a pair of relatively movable covers, a retracting mechanism-carried by one of said covers and securing the covers to each other comprising a plurality of drums having serrated peripheries, retractile springs in said drums, a pair of flexible binder straps having one end connected to said drums and the other end to the other cover, said drums adapted to exert a pressure on the binder straps by virtue of the retractibility of the springs contained therein to draw the covers towards each other, and a brake mounted adjacent the drums, said brake having a reciprocable serrated braking surface adapted for engagement with the drum peripheries simultanoously to restrain movement thereof.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a pair of relatively movable covers, a pair of clincher bars, said covers hingedly connected to the clincher bars, pairs of teles00 able tubes secured to said clincher bars an aligned with apertures therein and adapted to permit the clincher bars to be moved away from each other, drums journaled in a cover, retractile springs in said drums and operatively connected thereto, and a plurality of flexible straps extending through said tubes and said apertures, having an end anchored to one of the clincher bars, and the o posite end thereof secured to the drums, said springs normally exerting a pressure upon the straps to draw the covers towards each other.

4. In a loose leaf hinder,- the combination with a pair of relatively movable covers, a pair of clincher bars, said covers hingedly connected to the clincher bars, pairs of telesco able tubes secured to said clincher bars an aligned with apertures therein and adapted to permit the clincher bars to be moved away from each other, drums journaled in a cover, retractile springs in said drums and operatively connected thereto, and a plurality of flexible straps extending through said tubes and said apertures, having an end anchored to one 01 the clincher bars, and the opposite end thereof secured to the drums, said springs normally exerting a pressure u on the straps to draw the covers towards eac other, and a brake carried by a cover adjacent the retracting mechanism adapted to normally restrain movement thereof.

5. In a brake mechanism for a retracting mechanism of a loose leafbinder, comprising a brake shoe supporting a pluralitycof swivelable braking surfaces and means to normally force the braking surfaces into contact with the retracting mechanism to effect a braking action thereon, means to render said brake mechanism inoperative comprising a controlling cprojecting portion adapted to be engage by the finger of an operator to release the brake.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 13th day of June, 1927.

NORMAN CLAYBAUGH DE LOSS. 

